Page 3 of Nitro

“You know it doesn’t work like that. I can’t just do it whenever I want to. Besides, if something wasn’t right, I’d feel it. Nothing’s wrong with me. I’m fine.”

“You may think so, but you should let Doc check you out anyway.” Julia glances at me.

“Do I have a choice?”

“Nope.” She grins before turning off the highway onto the dirt road that leads to the clubhouse.

As we drive past the club’s bar and grill, I check the bikes parked outside. Any friendly clubs are welcome to eat and drink at our place, but one club is not allowed: the Demon Riders. Blackstone funds that club. Last year, we got into a shootout with them. We took out some of their members, but they’re like Hydra; chop off one head and two grow in its place. They’ve never been bold enough to show up here, but I wouldn’t put it past them.

I lean forward, straining to see through the windows into the bar. I’m not looking for anyone in particular, especially not Holly. She’s probably not working tonight anyway. I haven’t seen her work a Saturday night in weeks. Not that I’m watching. It wouldn’t matter if she were here since she won’t speak to me anymore. After what happened last year, she thinks I’m trouble. She’s right. I’m the worst kind of trouble, and if she’s smart, she’ll stay away from me.

I get a good look at our employees behind the bar. She’s not there. It bugs me that she’s not here where I can keep an eye on her, but it’s probably for the best. All we’d do is argue about her doomed marriage. We often fight about why she keeps forgiving her deadbeat husband for being a colossal piece of shit. I can’t stand the way she makes excuses for that bastard. All she has to do is say the word and I’ll make sure he never touches her again. But she still loves him. At least, that’s her excuse for not leaving him.

My jaw clenches as I turn my head away from the window. I shouldn’t be thinking about her right now. She made it perfectly clear that she wants nothing to do with me, but she’s anobsession I can’t shake. I wish I could get her out of my head, but all I can think about are those luscious pink lips I’ve never kissed and those killer curves I want to caress but have never touched. I respect her, so I don’t push for anything more. But damn, I want that woman.

As our clubhouse comes into view, my frustration dissipates. The white, ranch-style house behind the bar is the only place I’ve ever considered my home. I’ve lived here since I was thirteen. After Scar, Matrix, Talon, Reaper, and I escaped Blackstone’s dungeon, Nina and her old man took us in. Nina lives in her own place now, but we see her all the time. I don’t know where I would have ended up if Nina hadn’t found us. I owe her my life. We all do.

Julia parks at the bottom of the steps leading up to the porch. I’m less shaky than I was twenty minutes ago, so I don’t need help getting out of the van.

As I climb the steps, the door opens and Doc strides out. He’s in his mid-fifties, but he looks twenty years younger. At six feet tall, he’s all legs. He’s got the compact muscle of an athlete, which makes sense since the crazy fucker competes in triathlons for funzies. I asked him what made him want to spend hours a day running, biking, and swimming. He told me he’s seen what a shitty lifestyle can do to a body, and he wants no part of that. I admire the man for sticking to his convictions, even if it means being forced to try his latest nasty green protein shake concoction. I hope to God that he doesn’t have some spinach-cucumber monstrosity sitting in a blender in the kitchen. So gross.

“I heard you had quite the adventure today.” Doc grins, but his gaze is sharp and assessing.

“Had some parachute problems, but I’m good. A tree broke my fall.”

The guys ride into the open space and park their Harleys in a line. Scar gets off his bike, then goes to kiss his woman. Matrix, Talon, and Reaper join us.

“You’re one lucky son-of-a-bitch,” Doc says to me.

“Don’t I know it.”

“Bastard was born with a four-leafed clover shoved up his ass,” Talon says, shaking his head.

“And a horseshoe around his neck. Strangled the sense right out of him,” Matrix says.

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s grab a beer,” I say to Doc. I slap his back before walking into the house.

“Humor me and let’s do a quick exam,” Doc says.

“I’m good.”

As I stroll into the kitchen, one of the new club girls, Daisy, is reaching up to grab soup bowls off the top shelf. Her denim shorts ride up to reveal her perky little ass cheeks. She glances over her shoulder and gives me a sultry smile. “Heard you almost died today.”

“Almost.” I look away because I’m not interested. She’s cute, but she’s not the woman I dream about every night. There’s only one woman for me—Holly. Unfortunately, Holly hates me right now because I told her she should leave her piece-of-shit husband. I’ve got good reason to want her to get away from him and it has nothing to do with how hard my dick gets any time she’s around. Nothing at all. Seriously. I just want her to be cherished because she’s an amazing woman. She deserves so much better than what she’s got.

“If you need a massage later, I’m happy to help,” Daisy says.

“No thanks, I’m—”

Searing pain rips through my abdomen. I double forward, cracking my jaw against the counter before sliding down to the ground. Pain sharp enough to steal my breath hits my left sidenear my ribs. An echoing jolt pounds into my right lung. I can’t seem to suck any air in. I can’t breathe.

Doc drops to his knees in front of me. He’s yelling questions, but I know that whatever’s happening right now isn’t happening to me. It’s happening to her. To Holly. To my woman. Someone’s beating the shit out of her. She needs help. I have to get to her before she dies.

Crawling across the floor, I’m almost to the garage door when Scar hauls me to my feet.

“I knew I should have made Doc check you out,” Scar snaps.

“Not. Me.” I gasp as another blow slams into the center of my chest.

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